GERMANS USE DRUGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1941, Page 6

GERMANS USE DRUGS

GROWING HABIT IN ARMY. ACCORDING TO MINISTRY STATEMENT. The use of drugs to steady the nerves and support declining morale is growing in the German army. This is revealed by the Ministry of Economic Warfare, which has gathered a strange assortment of articles from many different sources for expert examination. say the London "Daily Telegraph." The analysis shows • how the Germans are becoming defiicient in various commodities as a result of our blockade. Dr.. Phelps, a Ministry expert, said that from an examination of the pockets of men captured at Lofoten it could be said that, the drug habit had increased considerably among the Nazis. They all carried large quantities of soporifics and patent medicines, though warnings against their increased use had been broadcast by Nazi official circles. Mr Hunt, another Ministry expert, explained some of the interesting features of the "black museum." By using again some of the pure silk parachutes taken from Nazi airmen we are saving £35 each time. New harness has to bo fitted in most cases. Most of the sil,k comes from Japan, though occasionally it is Italian. Other exhibits with comments, were: Seat of parachute with German blood on straps, "untested for its pure Aryan qualities"; parachute for flare made of viscose rayon, ‘‘very sound job; stitching is pure silk —quite unnecessary."

Cotton smock for parachute troops, cnly example in this country, complete with Eagle and Swastika and parachute badge. Air officer's suit of pure silk cloth and pure silk fur inside, “very light, for use in fighter 'plane"; three samples of German pants, “very hard wearing.” Paper pillowcases, first example of use of paper in woven and spun form; mattress case of cotton sweepings, taken from rescue boat, “apparently good enough for wounded airmen." Medicine chest, contents in tablet form; no iodine, disinfectants, or vaseline, "which indicates shortage long suspected: bandages of artificial cotton wool, revealing cotton shortage.” Metal exhibits showed extensive use of aluminium, largely to replace copper, stocks of which are getting short.